The Daily News SATURDAY, JUNE 13. QUINQUENNIAL PROGRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 148, 13 June 1908, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, JUNE 13. QUINQUENNIAL PROGRESS.

During the five years from 1902 to 1!H)T, i according to Mr. von Dadelszen, Hie value of improvements tlirOn«hout tlu Dominion rose from a little under £00,000.000 to close upon £87,000,000, mi increase of £27,000,(10(1, 041 ml to 45 per cent. The Auckland Herald calls attention to tliis '•improvements" increase, because there is reason to think it rather under than oxer-valued, the oflicjal tendency of the time being to lielittlc '•'improvements" and tu exaggerate '•'unmiproved values." The '•unimproved values" arc given as having risen fro.ll under £95,000,000 to nearly £150,000,000, an increase of nearly £55,000,000 in the live years. Occupied holdings rose in number from 05,000 to 711,300, and "h' acreage in cultivation from 13,350,000 to 15.215,0000; while the stock of the D> minion, notwithstanding the steady drain upon it for local and export use 1 , increased in evident harmony with tr.e expanding area of cultivation. The actual stock figures are: — 1902 1007 Increase Horses... 28fi,!>05 852.832 65,877 Cattle ... 1,400,003 1.816,299 355,630 Sheep ... 20,312,7-'8 20,993,110 640/91 l'igg ... 193,740 241,128 47,383 Here, we have a glimpse at one of the sources of our national prosperity, and an indication of the added impulse to prosperity that would be given by the opening up of laud now lying idle, and which could rapidly be made to carry stock and to yield annually public wealth and Departmental revenues. 'J'h,_. exports of produce further proves this. The official comparisons between 1902 and 1007 »re:— 190! 1907 Increase £ £ £ Wool ... 3,354,563 7,057,278 4,K02,715 Meat ... 2,718,763 3,420,661 701,90 i , Duller ... 1,205,802 1,615,315 100,543 I Cheese ... 163,639 66.',3f5 49.H.M0 I l''lax ... 534,031 812,068 2-8,037

Nor is it only the land that yielded in abundant increase, the mine was 110 less 1 responsive to our colonial energies. The gold export, already in 1902 close upon j C 2,000,000. increased by £70,064 for 1907, and kauri gum, fluctuations of prices notwithstanding, rose in value from £450,000 to close upon £580,000, an increase, comparing the two years, of nearly £130,000. Excepting grain, the export value of which fell by tluvery considerable sum of £733,000, there was a general increase in all our productive industries. Is it to be wondered at, then, that we are prosperous, that nearly half-a-million more post-il money orders were issued in 1907 than in 1902. that the railway receipts rose from under £2,000,000 sterling to ovr £2,760,000, and that shipping, inward and outward, rose by 105,000 tana and 170,000 tons respectively. Nearly half-a-million more tons of coal were dug ,>at of the earth; over £600,000 was the increase in exports of "provisions, tallow, timber, etc."; although the population only increased from 807,t(!)O to" 929,000. Naturally, there being plenty of work and plenty of money in circulation—the reward of genuine Sales and bona fide production—everything prospered. The banks increased their' business from 35 to 40 per cent.; and savings bank depositors increased from 21)1,000 to oti-1.000, and banked nearly five million sterling more in 1907 than in 1902. Sir Joseph Ward will agree with u< (comments the Herald) that all this is more satisfying and gratifying, and that, whatever, Government is in, ami whatever party is out, it is a matter upon wJiic-Ij all »»• Zealanders can heartily and cordially congratulate Onanother.